NOVE COLLI

Nove colli, or “nine hills,” is one of the long­est-stand­ing fon­dos around. In its 47th edi­tion this year, the event has shaped how cy­clists de­fine a stel­lar fondo. It’s no sur­prise the event is pop­u­lar and sells out, but if you can get a spot, you’ll be treated to closed roads, beau­ti­ful rid­ing in the Emilia-ro­magna re­gion and near the coast of the Adri­atic Sea and, of course, hills. There are nine climbs, pre­dictably, in the 205-km course, four of which rid­ers in the 135-km op­tion will also get to en­joy.